Robbers in Mexico Steal $2.5 Million in Gold Coins

Armed robbers successfully broke into the national mint,a Mexican government coin manufacturer, and escaped from the scene with $2 million worth of gold coins from a vault that had been left open, according to security officials.

According to a Mexico City police report, two people, one with a firearm, broke into the mint after throwing a security guard to the ground and taking his gun.

One of the robbers then went to an open vault and filled a backpack with 1,567 gold coins. The robbers then carried the gold centennials directly from the scene.

Officials from the government coin manufacturer are suspected of assisting the robbers.

The Mexican Mint is an independent agency of the federal government and is responsible for producing the country’s money.

The gold centennial coin was minted for the first time in 1921 to commemorate the first 100 years of Mexican independence. While production was discontinued in 1931, it resumed in 1943 due to growing demands for gold at the time.

The coins, made from 34 grams of pure gold, are valued at around 37,500 Mexican pesos each (US $1,916) and are also much sought after by collectors.